Steam-supply means foe cylinder of bailway-locomotives



S. H. LEWIS. STEAM SUPPLY'MEANS FOR CYLINDERS 0F RAlLWAY LOCOMOTIVES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9| 1918.

Patented Dec 6, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

S. H. LEWIS.

STEAM SUPPLY MEANS FOR CYLINDERS 0F RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVES.

APPLICATION. FILED NOV. 9. I918.

Patented D00. 6, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

winwtoz flamaeZlewzls w z. 5 a no 45' 44 4 1 a J n xx v 1 1 S. H. LEWIS.

STEAM SUPPLY MEANS FOR CYLINDERS OF RAlLWAY LOCOMOTIVES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9. 1918.

1,399, 1 31. Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I as -5 amae ew/Js 3?) Show w Uhll'l'hl!) STATE-S rarest err-ins.

SAMUEL H. LEWIS, or nrcn uonn, VIRGINIA.

STEAM-SUPPLY MEANS non orrirniinns or nnrLwAY-Loomaorrvns' eeann.

Specification of Iietters latent. I Patgnted Dec, 6, 1921 Application filed November 9, 1918. Serial No. 261,823.

and useful Improvements in Steam-Supply Means for Cylinders of Railway-Locomotives, of which the folowing is a specification.

My invention relates to fluid pressure operated apparatus, for supplying steam to the cylinder or cylinders of a railway locomotive, when the main supply of steam is cut off therefrom, and the engine is drifting by gravity or inertia.

As is well known, railway locomotives are frequently operated with superheated steam, which is heated to a temperature of about 600 F. This high temperature steam heats the walls of tie cylinders of the engine to a high-temperature, so that the oil is burned or flashed, upon the introduction of air, smoke box gases and cinders, into the cylinder or cylinders. This air, gas and cinders are drawn into the cylinder or cylinders, when the main supply of steam is cut off, and the engine is traveling or drifting above a comparatively low speed, as partial vacuums are then ordinarily created within the cylinders. It is obvious that theintake of air and the like into the cylinders may be prevented by the presence of a suitable amount of steam in such cylinders, when the main supply is cut off and the engine is drifting. I

An important object of the invention is to provide means for regulating the degree of pressure necessary to open the steam sup ply valve, whereby such valve will open when the engine reaches a selected speed.

A further object of the invention is to provide adjustable yielding means to oppose the opening movement of the steam supply valve, whereby it may be set to open at a selected speed of the engine, without varying the volume of the control apparatus. 1

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specificationv and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus embodying my invention, showing thesame applied to a railway locomotive,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged central vertical sectionalnview through the control apparatus,

parts being shown inelevation.

Fig. 3 is an edge elevation of the body portion of: the control apparatus, taken at right angle, to Fig. 2, with parts'omitted,

F 4; is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 41- l of and, c I Fig. 5 isa central parts in elevation.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates arailway locomotive of any well,

the usual steam chest 13, for connection with a steam supply pipe 14. There are two steam supply pipes 14, one for each cylinder, as is well known, which are connected with the superheater. The steam chest 13 has the usualdistribution valve operated by a radius rod 15 or the like.

Attention being called more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, it will be seen that the numeral 16 designates a control apparatus, as a whole, comprising a pressure chamber 17, which is preteral' ly cylindrical, and vertically arranged. The control apparatus is rigidly connected with ahorizontal arm 18, which is rigidly secured to a bracket 19, attached to the guide yoke of the locomotive or other suitable part thereof;

At its upper end, the chamber 1? has a tubular plug '21.

The numeral 23 designates apartition or Fig. 3, with-parts omitted,

vertical sectionallview through a steam valve and associated means,

preferably wall, forming a chamber 24' having at its upper end ayertical opening 25, in com inunicat on with a pressuresupply P113626,

as shown. This pressure supply pipe 26 leads to a tank 27, containing compressed air or other fluid pressure. ,At itslower end, the chamber 24 has communication with the chamber 17, through the medium of a vertical port 28. At theupper end of the port 28 is a valve seat 29, engaged by a vertically movable valve 30, carried by a vertical depending stem 31. This stein projects through adepending guide tube 32 and a stufiing 190x33. sliding sleeve 34L is apertured for the reception of the stem 31 and is arranged within the lower end of guide tube 82. The lower portion of thestem 31' has a transverse opening for the reception of a pin 35, contacting with the sliding sleeve A compressible coil spring 36 surrounds the stem 31 and is confined between the end of the sleeve 34 and a gland 87, projecting into the stufling box 33.

Arranged within the lower portion of the chamber 17 is a raised portion 38, having a vertical )ort 39, in communication with a receiver plpe a0, as shown. At the upper end of the .port 39 is a valve seat i1, engaged by a vertically movable valve 4:2, secured to a depending vertical valve stem L3. This valve stem extends through a tubular guide it, and stufing box 45. Surrounding the lower portion of the stem 13 is a sliding sleeve 16, mounted to reciprocate within the lower portion of the tubular guide 44. The lower end of the stem 43 has a transverse opening formed therein for the reception of a pin it, as shown. A compressible coil spring as surrounds a portion of the stem 18, and is confined between the sleeve as and a gland 49.

Means are provided to alternately raise the stem 81 and 48, for opening the valves carried thereby, such means comprising a swinging arm 50, provided at its upper end with a head 51, having an opening 52 formed therein, to pivotally receive a pin 53. This pin is carried. by depending supports 54, rigidly secured to the lower end of the depending tubular guides. At its upper end, the swinging arm is provided with lateral extensions 55, having screw-threaded openings for the reception of set screws 56 or the like. When the arm 50 is in the vertical position, the screws 56 are both slightly spaced from the lower ends 5 the valve stems, whereby both valves are closed and when the arm 50 is swung in either direction the corresponding .valve stem is elevated and the valve unseated. However, both valves cannot be open at the same time.

Pivotally connected with the lower end of the arm 50 is a link 57 which'is pivoted to the radius rod 15, or other movable part of the locomotive.

The receiver pipe 40 which leads into the vertical port 39 is also connected with fluid pressure operated apparatus, comprising a vertical cylinder 58, provided near its upper end with a port 59, leading to the atmosphere. Mounted to reciprocate within the cylinder 58 is an ordinary movable piston 60. This piston fits within the cylinder 58 in a manner to permit of the slight escape of fluid pressure between it and the wall of the cylinder whereby this fluid pressure may pass to the atmosphere through the port 59, but the escape of fluid pressure is not suflicient to prevent the fluid pressure introduced into the lower end of the cylinder 58 from elevating the piston 60, in the proper operation of the apparatus. The piston 60 has a vertical stem 61 connected therewith. Further, the valves 30 and 42 must be alternately opened with su'liicient speed to overcome the loss of pressure due to leakage through the port 59 to the atmosphere, and maintain a pressure suiiiciently high to hold the piston elevated. It is thus seen that the piston will be elevated and retained elevated, when the speed of the locomotive exceeds a predetermined degree, whereby the steamisupply valve is retained permanently open during such operation.

The numeral 62 designates a drifting supply pipe, the forward end of which is connected with branch pipes 63, by means of a T-coupling 6 1. These branch pipes lead into the steam supply pipes 14. It is to be understood that the invention is in no sense restricted to this precise construction, as it is obvious that the forward end of the pipe 52 may be connected in the steam passage between the main throttle valve and the locomotive cylinders. The pipe'62 has its opposite end suitably connected with the steam turret 11, but it is to be understood that this pipe may be connected with any other suitable source of steam supply.

Connected in the pipe 62 is a valve structure including the casing 65, provided with a valve seat 66, having its opening covered and uncovered by a vertically movable valve 67. The valve 67 is moved downwardly by a compressible coil spring 68 and also by the fluid pressure upon the unbalanced area of the upper end of the valve stem 61, to which the valve 67 is rigidly secured. The 61 operates within 'a'guide '69. The guide 69 is cylindrical and externally screwth'readed, for receiving thereon an adjusting nut 69, which engages with the spring 68. It is obvious that by rotating this not 69 the tension of the spring 68 may be varied, thereby causing the valve 67 to open, upon the supplying of a different degree of pressure within the cylinder 58, beneath the piston 60. Any steam passing from the casing about the stem 61 through. the

guide 69, discharges to the atmosphere through the port 59. It is obvious that as the valves 30 and 12- are alternately opened and closed, fluid pressure is intermittently fed into the receiving pipe 10 and hence passes to the cylinder 58. As the speed of the locomotive reaches a predetermined point. the pressure within the cylinder 58 is built up sufficiently to elevate the piston 60, and retain the same elevated during the travel of the locomotive at or above the selected speed, the valve 67 being retained open. It is thus apparent that by turning the nut 69, the tension orstiffness of the spring 68 may be increased or decreased, thereby changing the speed at which the valve (37 will open. In my co-pending application for steam supply means for cylinders of railway locomotives, filed July 20, 1918, Serial No. 245,936, the selected speed of the locomotive at which the valve 67 would open, was obtained by varying the volume of the casing of the control apparatus. By securing tubes of different lengths to the casing of the control apparatus, its volume could be increased "or decreased. In this way the valve 67 would open at different selected speeds. By the present construction, I am able to dispense with the employment of these tubes of different length and accomplish the same result, by regulating the tension of the spring 68.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

hen thelocornotive is traveling with the main throttle valve partly or wholly open the steam as supplied to the cylinders 12 through the steam pipes 14, as is well known. The reciprocatory movement of the rod 15 swings the arm 50 to alternately open one valve and close the other valve 4-2. When the rear valve 30 is open, compressed air passes from the tank 27 through pipe 26 into the pressure chamber 17, but cannot pass therefrom as the forward valve 42 is closed. When the forward valve a2 is open the rear valve 30 is closed, whereby the fluid pressure within the chamber 17 discharges into the receiver pipe and the lower end of the cylinder 58. This introduction of pressure within the cylinder 58, when it rises to a required degree, causes the piston to rise, thereby opening the valve 67. The fluid pressure can slightly escape around the piston 60, but the pressure. is intermittently supplied from the chamberl'Z, sufficiently rapidly, when the locomotive is traveling above a predetermined speed, to

retain the piston elevated and the valve 67 permanently open, and the steam from the turret 11 passing through the pipe 62 will discharge into the steam pipes 14, and hence into the cylinders 12. The steam is fed through the pipe 62 into the cylinders 12 when the throttle is closed, in proper amounts to prevent the formation of vacuums therein. This prevention of the formation of vacuums within the cylinders and the exclusion of air and the like therefrom prevents the destruction of the lubrloant. The steam also serves to lubrlcatethe cylinders.

Particular attention is called to the fact that the opening or closing of the valve 67 is in no way dependent upon the creation of vacuum within the cylinders, as by the employment of my apparatus, it is impossible for vacuums tooccur. I

When the speed of the locomotive becomes lower than is required to maintain a fluid pressure in the receiver pipe 40 and cylinder 58 at the degree required to hold piston 60 and valve 67 elevated, the piston 60 will be forced downward by the spring 68 and the action of the steam upon the unbalanced area of the upper end of the valve stem 61, and the valve 67 will be seated. This cuts off the supply of steam through the pipe 62 to the cylinders. When the locomotive comes to a stop, one or both of the valves 30 and 42 are closed, thereby entirely cutting off supply of fluid pressure to the cylinder 58 beneath the piston 60. I

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of thesame, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim. a I

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In apparatus of the character described, a conduit to supply steam to the cylinder or cylinders of a railway locomotive, a valve casing arranged in said conduit, a valve in said casing to control the passage of steam through the conduit, a cylinder arranged near the valve, a sleeve in said cylinder forming a guide, a piston mounted to reciprocate within the cylinder having a stem reciprocable within said guide and connected with the valve to move it, a spring surrounding said stem and guide and engage ing the piston to oppose its movement in the direction inwhich said valve is opened, a

nut mounted upon said sleeve and adjust- 

